Comments on: Thingamajig Thursday: rowels

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:24:53 +0000

I don’t really know why they need to rotate, but rowels are only “standard” on spurs for Western style riding. Most spurs used by English sytle riders have a flat-ended nub.

The pointy bits of the rowel aren’t really that sharp, especially if you are a horse with lots of hair, so I doubt that the purpose is to prevent cutting. Though I am an English rider myself, so I’ve only ever used non-roweled spurs.

And I like the word “rowel.” Rowel rowel rowel.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:40:52 +0000

The spurs rotate to keep them from becoming stuck on anything they might come in contact with – horse, stick, other person

By: Nick

Nick — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:08:35 +0000

“equine motivation accessory”

By: Joanna

Joanna — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:11:43 +0000

From the horse’s point of view, I’d call them, “Dude, you poke me with those things one more time and I dumping you in the nearest stand of saguaro.”

By: Johnny Cat

Johnny Cat — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:57:31 +0000

“How ’bout you, Lash LaRue? Can you keep your spurs from jingling and jangling?”

They could be called keitels.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:37:58 +0000

My theory is that the rotation lessens the likelihood of lacerating your horse when the spurs are applied. It also increases the bling factor by providing a big flashy piece that summons attention by jingling.

As for alternative names, they’d have to be in keeping with the taciturn riders of the purple sage. Something like ‘tentiongitters, giddyups or bootwheels.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:39:08 +0000

I know nothing about horses, but I’m trying to find the benefit of the wheel design. What exactly do it do?

By: Craig

Craig — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:31:49 +0000

Color me stupid, but I always referred to it as a spur.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:15:15 +0000

Why do they need to rotate? It seems like a small spike (not terribly sharp) would do the trick of putting a little more giddyup in your pony, so what’s with the overcomplicated movable part?

I recommend that they be called Spur Spinners.